Sunday, September 25, 2011

Time for a Papertrey Ink Blog Hop! This month is another inspiration photo, seen here:

When I saw this picture I was stumped at first! Then as I was visiting favorite blogs, I came across this awesomely creative idea by Samantha Sibbet in this post on her blog More Paper Please. We met through Pink Persimmon a few years ago, and she is such a talented scrapbooker and card designer! Samantha wrote a wonderful tutorial about making your own chevron stripes HERE. So with patterned paper strips in hand, here is what I came up with:

I made my strips using PTI's True Black cardstock, and papers from October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker and 5&Dime Collections. Stamped my favorite little gingerbread and a sweet sentiment from Holiday Button Bits. I found that it was easiest to make those strips really long, glue them down on the cardstock, and then cut the edges off afterwards. Also, some of my center points looked a little wonky, so a nice piece of black embroidery floss seemed to even everything right out!

Thanks so much for visiting today, and thanks to Samantha for always being so generous in sharing her talents with the blog world!

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Claire herself is back with sketches for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog! She started off again with one of her beautiful circular sketches. I had never made one until I tried one of her past sketches. They really are so much fun!

Here is my card:

﻿

Earth Angel is back! She is perfect with this new sentiment from Say It Loud-Winter Holiday! More papers from October Afternoon's Modern Homemaker collection. I also couldn't resist using the new holly dies from Papertrey Ink, which I embossed with that "weathered stripe" Cuttlebug Embossing folder (not sure of the real name?) I kept the sparkle subtle on this one, and colored in many portions with a Stardust glitter pen from Sakura.

Round up your supplies (hee!) and join in the fun. Upload your creation HERE by next Friday, September 30th. Be sure to include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation so you will be eligible to be the randomly-selected player who wins a WMS stamp set of choice!

Today we will be featuring projects with A Cottage Christmas on the waltz. I made 2 projects to share today...

I colored my little Christmas world PURPLE ( a color that I sadly neglect)! Used Copic markers on the cottage, and lots of Diamond glitter. There are so many little snow caps around the windows and ledges, that I used a super fine glue pen to get them all...

I made the snowy background with an image from Around Christmastime and a little snowflake from Seasons of Love-Tags. I stamped in Versamark and embossed with white powder on PTI's Royal Velvet cardstock. It looked a little bright to me compared to my house, so I sponged over the whole thing with PTI Vintage Cream ink, and then went in with a damp paper towel, and wiped the embossed portions. It turned out to be some swirly fun!

I could not leave my stamping area until I included the adorable lantern-toting snowman on a project!

I am stockpiling tags for Christmas! I stamped a pattern from Gingham & Co. and then the trees over the top. Used PTI's Tag Sale #4 die and a circle nestie for the center. The sentiment is from A Cottage Christmas, too!

Be sure to leave a comment on all of the DT members' blogs, as 1 random comment will be chosen...the winner taking home a Waltzingmouse Stamp set of choice! You have until September 21st to leave a comment by11:59 PM Claire's time (3:59 AM Pacific, 5:59 AM Central, and 6:59 AM EST).

Thanks SO much to everyone who visited me for my first WMS release! I appreciate all of your kind words and encouragment.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

It's Day 3 of the September Release Previews at Waltzingmouse Stamps! Today we are previewing a new Halloween set called Hocus Pocus, which will be released on Monday, September 19th at 2:00 PM EST. Oh how I love Claire's magical spin on Halloween!

I have a love for everything folk art. Warren Kimble's prints can be found in quite a few spots at my house. I found a little pumpkin basket for $1.00, and for some reason my mind wandered to images like these...

I stamped Hocus Pocus onto the wood using Stazon Jet Black ink. I only bought 1 pumpkin so I figured I had 2 shots at it (the front and back!) Luckily it worked out on the first try! I used a foam brush to paint on Plaid's Folk Art acrylic paint in Vintage White. Since it was square-shaped, I could get in pretty close to the sentiment and make a "mouth" shape.

After 2 coats dried, I covered it with Tim Holtz "Picket Fence" Crackle Paint (on just the pumpkin), and then with a smaller brush, added some "Rock Candy" Crackle paint over the mouth.

Took out some Distress inks in Antique Linen, Tea Dye, and Vintage Photo and rubber over the edges and enhanced some of the crackle. Searched high and low for just the right mismatched and crazy buttons! The orange ones are from Papertrey Ink, and the black and corduroy ones are from my "vintage" stash. I wanted a rusty bell for his nose, but settled on this mini clothespin that I stained darker brown. I even used Tim Holtz's new Antique Linen Distress Stain (thanks, Anya!) to make my ribbon more grungy!

Used PTI's Tiny Tags die, and stamped it with the crow and fence post from Hocus Pocus. The leaves are a fuzzier felt from JoAnn's that I cut with PTI's Bloom Builder's #1 die. I just cut off all of the petals except for 3 and strung those together. At this point, Jason arrived home and I asked for a wire cutter. He said he didn't think I should be using a wire cutter, but relented when I said I'd only make 2 snips :)! The copper wire is courtesy of HIS stash!

Reminder! Tomorrow is the day that these 4 new sets will be released in the Waltzingmouse Stamps store! Claire will reveal the sets on her blog at 1:00 PM EST, and then the store will open at 2:00 PM EST. Then join the Design Team for the Blog Waltz, for a chance to win a fabulous prize!

Off to visit THESE blogs since I can't get enough of Hocus Pocus! Here are the DT members who will be playing along today!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

It's Day 2 of the previews for the September release at Waltzingmouse Stamps! Just wanted to start by saying thanks SO much to everyone who left me comments and sent me emails yesterday! I really appreciate every single one, you all made me feel so welcome!

It's a busy day today at Waltzingmouse Stamps with 3 events going on at the same time! First up is the preview of the most gorgeous sentiment set addition in the history of the world! It's called Say It Loud- Winter Holiday, and you will find the perfect sentiment for any occasion this holiday season! It will be available for purchase on Monday, September 19th at 2:00 EST.

Today is also the Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz, and you can link your blog HERE if you would like to participate. The theme this month is Halloween! So with those 2 things in mind, here is my first card:

Isn't that big ole' HALLOWEEN sentiment so great?! I paired it with Cicely at Halloween, colored with Copics from my ever-growing collection (it's still really small, though!). She also is glittered up with a Spica pen and Stickles, but it's kind of hard to see!

That fence along the bottom....shhh, it's a sneak peak of a set previewing tomorrow! I cut the little gate to reveal another little sentiment from Cicely's set...

I originally began making this card for the THIRD thing happening today...this week's sketch challenge at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog. I plan on playing every week that I can because once a Mischief Maker always a Mischief Maker! I started to stray from this original sketch by Anya Schrier﻿, so I decided to feature one of the Christmas sentiments in Say It Loud-Winter Holidayon a different project.

Here's the sketch:

And here's a little Christmas tag:

﻿

I chose the "Joyeux Noel" sentiment and paired it with Big Blooms-Poinsettias. I stamped it in Versamark and then embossed it with white powder...the images emboss like a DREAM! Colored the poinsettias with Copic markers, and then paper-pieced them with added dimension. Lookie there...seems I added some more Martha Stewart clear coarse glitter!! I love that stuff, Martha! Hee!

Now it's your turn to try out this week's sketch. Upload your creation HERE by next Friday, September 23. Be sure to include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation to be eligible to be the randomly-selected participant who will win a WMS set of choice!

Come back tomorrow for a peek at another one of Claire's brilliant Halloween sets! For now, check out these Design Team members' blogs today for some more Say It Loud-Winter Holidayprojects:

Friday, September 16, 2011

Today is the day that I have been waiting on pins and needles to tell you about!

I am now a member of the Waltzingmouse Stamps Design Team!

Oh, the excitement! When I got the email invitation from Claire and Lynn, I promptly burst into tears! Frankly, I was overjoyed and overwhelmed! Never in a million years did I expect that note. What an honor to get to work for Claire Brennan, and to be on a team with such talented, sweet, warm, and wonderful designers! Adding to the thrill, I am not the only new member. I am joining on the same day as the brilliant Clare Buswell, and the amazing Becca Feeken! Be sure to stop by their blogs to congratulate them, as well!

But now, let's get down to the REAL business! Today is the beginning of previews for the September stamp release. Up first is one of the sweetest, most charming sets that you will ever see! It's called A Cottage Home and will be released this Monday, September 19th.

(click on image)

Using it is as addicting as playing with paper dolls as a child! There are so many ways to dress it up, and I just DARE you to not use glitter, hee!

(click on image)

I stamped the image with Color Box Creamy Brown Chalk ink, and then added some highlights with Copic Markers. The center panel of the house is on dimensionals. My glitter of choice? Why Martha Stewart's clear coarse glitter﻿, of course, along with some A Muse Studio pearls also colored with Copics! I chose the "New Home" sentiment from the set because everyone has made me feel so welcome. I am so lucky to have this opportunity!

Be sure to stop at these blogs today to see what the other Design Team members have made with A Cottage Home!

I'll see you again tomorrow with more exciting previews! Don't forget that it's also the Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps September Blog waltz starting HERE in the forum. This month's theme is Halloween! AND my favorite Mischief Makers will be at it again with the sketch of the week at the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge Blog!

Supplies:

Stamps: A Cottage Home, a new release from Waltzingmouse Stamps on Monday, September 19th

I turned the sentiment panel into a little shelf for Wanda to rest her kettle on. She's casting her spell, and now it's boiling over with something scary!

What do you have brewing for this week's sketch? Be sure to post your creation HERE by next Friday. Be sure to include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation to be eligible to be the randomly-selected participant to win a WMS stamp set of choice!

Monday, September 5, 2011

One more for the road (literally!) before I hang up my stampin' hat for the night! This one's for PTI's Make it Monday. This week the theme is stamping your own background paper with "non-background" building stamps!

This idea popped in my head when I saw the theme, I just didn't quite muster the energy to stamp those buses straight enough for my liking, though! I guess the first morning of school must have it's bumps around the neighborhood. Here's hoping for smooth sailing at our stop tomorrow!

Made this card for this week's Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers...#300! Stef chose the website Pomegranate Inc. which is so lovely. I chose the Blue Pineapple fabric print as my inspiration piece.

It could not be a more dreary "day-before-school-starts" day here, so my picture and mood are decidedly dimmer than usual! Making this card did cheer me up a bit, though. Used one of my favorite Papertrey Ink images, the pineapple from First Fruits. I cut the inner edges as Nichole Heady demonstrated on her blog when this set debuted (long ago it seems!), then added some Liquid Pearls to the center.

I told you that I am in love with the My Favorite Things Mini Rolled Rose die, and slightly addicted to making the roses. I must add that if you have one and are having trouble with it, be sure to go and watch Joanne Basile's You Tube tutorial about them. You will be rolling them up in no time (the pliers are key!!). I had made one with muslin fabric earlier this week. Today I asked myself the question..."Now what would Melissa Phillips do with this little rose?" Somehow I thought she would add it right to this pineapple, always love how she places little embellishments in surprising places! More papers from October Afternoon's 5 & Dime Collection. Their paper lines are just my style, and I always seems to have the ink pads that match their color schemes!

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Used the delicious Eat Cake set, along with the equally yummy Say It Loud set. Don't want to forget to mention the no-calorie, super sweet, patterned paper from October Afternoon. Stamped the cake image in Versamark ink on the krafty dot paper (from the 5 & Dime Collection), embossed it with clear powder, and then cut the cake out. Also stamped, embossed, and cut some tiny flowers from the set to add to the cake. Finished up with 2 lovely felt flowers made with the Mini Rolled Rose die from My Favorite Things. Making those things just might be as addicting as eating chocolate cake ;)

What sketch treats will you whip up this week? Be sure to upload them HERE by next Friday, and include at least one Waltzingmouse Stamps image on your creation. That way you will be eligible to be the randomly-selected winner to win a WMS set of choice!